"Picture yourself in the Southern most island of New Zealand wandering under a stadium of stars to try your luck at native kiwi spotting".

Stewart Island offers the best chance most people will ever have to see New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, in its natural environment. Rest assured not many New Zealanders can make that claim.

Many centuries ago Maori came by canoe to the island to harvest shellfish and mutton birds, traditions still carried out today by local iwi. They named the island Rakiura - 'Land of the Glowing Skies' as it is renowned for lingering summer sunsets and the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights.

Stewart Island Brown Kiwi - Apteryx Australis Lawyri
The Maori name is Tokoeka - "Weka with a stick".

Our five day guided walk takes a nice loop across Stewart Island. Starting in the sleepy fishing village of Riverton we travel to Mason Bay on the West Coast of Stewart Island. Then walk, water taxi and sea kayak our way across the island to Halfmoon Bay. A visit to the stunning open sanctuary Ulva Island and some time to explore Halfmoon Bay before flying back to the mainland at Invercargill.